MIKE Atherton has added his voice to those bemoaning England selector Geoff Miller’s decision to leave Essex wicketkeeper James Foster out of the winter touring parties.

The former England captain was left stunned by Foster’s exclusion from England’s Test and Performance squads for their forthcoming tours of India.

Despite a stellar LV County Championship season in which he scored more than 900 runs at an average of over 50 and recorded 54 dismissals behind the stumps, the 28-year-old was overlooked in favour of Warwickshire’s Tim Ambrose, Sussex’s Matt Prior and Worcestershire’s Steven Davies.

Australian-born Ambrose has scored just 97 runs in his last six Test innings for England, while Prior’s wicketkeeping is widely considered to be well below Test match standard.

And, writing in his column for The Times, Atherton was far from impressed.

“Dullness and consistency of thought are good attributes for selectors since stability is a key foundation stone of any successful team,” wrote the former Lancashire opening batsman.

“But with the omission of James Foster comes the troubling feeling that the selectors have failed to recognise performances that, over the past couple of years, have rarely fallen below outstanding.

“His omission from the development squad in favour of Steven Davies, of Worcestershire, means that the best wicketkeeper in England does not feature in their winter plans.

“He must wonder what more he has to do.”

Atherton’s view is one shared by Essex first-team coach Paul Grayson, who earlier this week told the Echo that Foster’s ommission had been a “real kick in the teeth” for the county’s vice-captain.

Miller defended the decision, saying the England door remained open for the Essex man: “James has done really well this year. His glove work has been great and his batting has improved. I’m sure he will be knocking on the door in the future.”

Foster himself appears to have long ago accepted that an England career that brought him eight Test and 11 One-Day International caps in 2001 and 2002 may be over.

“It’s disappointing as I feel I’ve had a good season with the bat and gloves in all forms of the game, and in general, I feel I’ve been very consistent over the last four to five seasons and my skills are still improving,” he said.

“That doesn’t seem to be enough for the selectors, but I’ll keep plugging away.”